“We are invincible as long as we remember that we were born free,” — NGU officer Ivan
The way and goal of the National Guard of Ukraine is to protect the honor of Ukraine everywhere. NGU has become one of the key elements of the general system of defense of our state, which does not allow the enemy to defeat Ukraine. During the years of the war in Donbas, and from the first minutes of Russia's full-scale invasion, the National Guards have shown real Ukrainian strength and are doing everything possible to make Ukraine stand.
It was this path of service that 27-year-old Ivan chose for himself. He was born in Kharkiv and dreamed of becoming a military or police officer. Because of his good knowledge of English, he entered the philological faculty of the National Guard Academy. In 2019, having received lieutenant shoulder straps, he was appointed deputy company commander in one of the military units in the Kiev region.
The specificity of his service for large-scale war was the preparation of units for combat operations. The officer often acted as a DRG commander on unit field trips.
“The war was met at 5 o'clock in the morning of February 24. I raised the fighters on combat alert, made light disguises in the barracks, got weapons and armor. Everything was very fast, no one “slowed down”. After that, they received a combat mission and went to the designated place on an armored personnel carrier. We sat all night without closing our eyes. The next morning he received an order to join the brigade “Frontier”, — recalls the national guard.
Next was the security of the airport “Kiev”. Mortar shelling and shell attacks followed.
“I tried not to be sad and think that everything was going to be okay. I just believe in our Victory and I have been preparing for it, and now I am doing my job. Yes, it was scary, but I was ready for it,” says the officer.
“After the protection, we left for a new frontier, our task was to defend the village and we were entrenched nearby. As soon as they occupied the defense, we began to work with the 82nd mortar, and then with something heavier. We were between our own and enemy artillery. The other day I had to observe how shells fly in both directions. Opposite us were two Russian “runs”, but they were empty, the entire crew was destroyed. But everything was not so simple. On the hill near our position lay a “good Russian”, even then we wondered how he could be so close. He was lying down for a few days and then we noticed that he was lying in a different position. They gave him a turn - he shrieked. He depicted a dead man hiding a radio station to transmit information about us. I do not know how he could lie for several days without moving, most likely they somehow changed at night. By the way, now he portrays a dead man at a Kobzon concert,” says Ivan.
He also recalled that after the tactical withdrawal and regrouping and with the arrival of the special purpose unit, we again left for the “Farm” and there took up the fight. There was almost no communication and fire was from everything. One BTR was lost and one brother was wounded. But the guards held out. When they were changed and removed from their positions, the most pleasant thing was to call their relatives. And our hero is grateful to the local residents who always helped them, brought hot food and tea. They helped with fuel and with the repair of equipment.
The guard's family is all military. The younger brother is also an officer — a company commander in the NGU, liberated the right bank of Kherson, his father was mobilized — an ambulance driver, dismissed Balaklea, and is now fighting in the Bakhmut direction.
“Guys, each of us has our own way of life, but if you were born free in a free country you must defend it, for the sake of your loved ones, parents, wives and children. It even sounds banal, because we all want to keep what we have. Of course there are many risks, but either yes or no. Otherwise, no other way. We must fulfill our civic duty,” the officer of the National Guard of Ukraine is confident.
National Guard of Ukraine
